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Mrs. Lunsford from Leicester, NC is requesting educational kits & games through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mrs. Lunsford's classroom raised $490

Puzzling Our Way to Success in the Media Center!

Help me give my students 20 + puzzles to continue building our creative thinking puzzle skills!

Classroom photo
Mrs. Lunsford profile photo
Mrs. Lunsford Leicester Elementary School
Leicester, NC Grades 3-5

My Project

Puzzles have become an important part of our media center, providing elementary students with meaningful opportunities to strengthen critical thinking, problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and perseverance through hands-on learning. After the success of last year's puzzle initiative, I have seen firsthand how students eagerly engage with puzzles both independently and collaboratively. To continue building on this success, I now need puzzles that meet the developmental needs of all students—from beginning puzzle skills in kindergarten to increasingly complex challenges for fourth-grade learners. Providing a range of puzzle difficulties ensures that every student is appropriately challenged while experiencing success and growth.

Our ongoing puzzle station has become a popular and purposeful feature of the media center.

Students frequently choose puzzles as a social-emotional learning break, allowing them to regulate emotions, refocus, and return to learning with renewed concentration. Others enjoy working on puzzles after checking out library books, creating a calm, engaging activity that promotes collaboration, communication, and positive peer interactions. The puzzle station has fostered a welcoming environment where students practice patience, teamwork, and persistence while developing confidence in their abilities.

Puzzles also reinforce academic learning by supporting English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and other curriculum areas through interactive, hands-on experiences. Carefully selected puzzles encourage students to apply classroom knowledge, recognize patterns, strengthen vocabulary, and develop logical thinking in meaningful ways. The positive growth I witnessed throughout the previous school year demonstrates the value of this initiative. Expanding our collection with puzzles of varying complexity will allow the media center to continue meeting the needs of all learners while fostering curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Nearly all students from low‑income households

400 students impacted 1 donor
Mrs. Lunsford Leicester Elementary School Grades 3-5

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Leicester, NC View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

400 students impacted 1donor

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Sequencing Numbers 1-20 Puzzles - Set of 3 • Lakeshore Learning Materials $29.99 1 $29.99
QUOKKA 100 Piece Puzzles for Kids Ages 4-6 - 4 Jigsaw Puzzles for Kids Ages 6-8 - Search and Find Game with Animals, Dinosaurs for Childrens 5-8 - Learning Educational Toys for Boys and Girls 8-10 • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Ravensburger Sea Turtle Floor Puzzle - 100 Pieces • Kaplan Early Learning Company $21.80 1 $21.80
Plant Anatomy Science Puzzle Set from Mudpuppy - Includes Three 100 - Piece Puzzles with Colorful Illustrations, Ages 6+, Trifold Insert with Fun Science Facts Included • Amazon Business $20.81 1 $20.81
All Four Seasons Floor Puzzles • Lakeshore Learning Materials $19.99 1 $19.99
Ravensburger Fun at The Carnival - Engaging 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids | Unique Piece Design | Anti-Glare Surface | Perfect Skill-Building Game for Toddlers and Kids | Model Number: 13231 • Amazon Business $17.99 1 $17.99
Ravensburger - Monster Minecraft - 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - XXL Pieces for Easy Assembly - Exciting, Minecraft Villain Imagery - Premium Quality - Ideal Gift - Screen-Free Fun - Children Age 6+ • Amazon Business $17.54 1 $17.54
Ravensburger - Let's Play Ball - 200 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Exciting, Colorful Imagery of Childhood Favorites - Ball Sports and Dogs - Premium Quality - Ideal Gift - Screen-Free Fun - Children Ages 8+ • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Ravensburger - Animals of The Savannah - 200 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Exciting, Colorful Imagery of Lions, Elephants, Tigers & More - Premium Quality - Ideal Gift - Screen-Free Fun - Children Ages 8+ • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Ravensburger - Glitter Unicorn - 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Exciting, Colorful Scene of a Glittery, Magical Unicorn - Birds & More - Premium Quality - Ideal Gift - Screen-Free Fun - Children Age 6+ • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Ravensburger Disney Moana Voyage Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids | 49 Unique Pieces | Precision-Crafted Educational and Fun | Ideal for Age 3+ • Amazon Business $16.99 1 $16.99
Ravensburger Scooby Doo: Three Night Fright - Kid-Friendly 3x49 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles Set | FSC-Certified | Engaging Imagery | Durable, Easy-to-Hold Pieces | Beneficial for Cognitive Development • Amazon Business $16.65 1 $16.65
Ravensburger Jungle Animals 100 Piece XXL Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids | Unique Interlocking Pieces | Durable and Glare-Free | FSC-Certified Sustainable Toy • Amazon Business $16.65 1 $16.65
Ravensburger - Big Cat Nap - 200 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Stunning Imagery of The Worlds Feline Apex Predators - Lions, Tigers & More - Premium Quality - Ideal Gift - Screen-Free Fun - Children Ages 8+ • Amazon Business $16.59 1 $16.59
University Games Dog Man Supa Buddies Puzzle, 100-Piece Jigsaw (UG-33846) • Quill.com $16.27 1 $16.27
Ravensburger Disney Encanto Puzzle - Engaging 100-Piece Jigsaw | Durable and Kid-Friendly | Ideal for Ages 6 and Up | Stimulates Brain Development | FSC Certified for Sustainable Fun • Amazon Business $15.89 1 $15.89
Ravensburger Rainforest Animals 60-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle | Engaging and Educational Fun | Perfectly Fitting Unique Pieces | Durable for Repeat Use | Ideal Gift for Kids Aged 4-8 Years • Amazon Business $15.10 1 $15.10
Ravensburger Prehistoric Life Puzzle - 60 Piece Durable Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids | Unique Puzzle Pieces | Enhances Concentration & Creativity | Eco-Friendly - FSC Certified • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Ravensburger Bluey 35 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids Age 3 Years Up - Educational Toddler Toys • Amazon Business $12.82 1 $12.82
Learning Resources STEM Explorers Pixel Art Challenge - Science Kits & STEM Activities for Kids, Pattern Blocks, Fine Motor Skills, Math Manipulatives, Sorting and Counting, Gifts for Boys and Girls • Amazon Business $11.00 1 $11.00

Materials cost

$353.03

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $27.54

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.30

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$415.87

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$73.39

Total project goal

$489.26

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $489.26

1 Donor

-$489.26

Donations toward project cost

-$415.87

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$73.39

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

Project Activity
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Lunsford and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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